The Vashon Seals Swim Team is kicking off a fund-raising effort in order to pay for an inflatable bubble pool cover that will be erected over the Vashon Pool in October and provide year-round swim opportunities.

The team needs to raise $100,000 to sufficiently fund the project, and, as of July 5, had raised $33,000.

The Seals’ fundraising campaign consists of seven ways to donate to the cause:

1. Donate online at

squareup.com/store/cover-our-pool.

2. Bring signed Thriftway receipts to the pool.

3. Set “Vashon Aquatic Club” (DBA the Seals) as your Amazon Smile charity.

4. Vote for Captain Chlorine and the Swim Squad in Vashon’s Unofficial Mayor race. Donation jars are around town, and donations can also be made online at

coverourpool.org

5. Visit the Seals dunk tank at the Vashon Strawberry Festival.

6. Attend a community-wide swim marathon on Friday, Aug. 18.

7. Use the Vashon Pool this summer.

The fundraising campaign comes after months of discussion with the Vashon Park District and multiple proposals completed with hundreds of volunteer hours donated by Seals parents in the way of engineering, research and permitting work.

Under the plan narrowly approved by the Vashon Park District (VPD) board in May, the Seals will purchase the $85,000 bubble from AmeriDome and cover all initial construction costs, as well as the costs of operating the bubble during the team’s practice times (10 hours per week).

VPD will be responsible for ongoing operation and maintenance costs, including hiring and paying lifeguards, at an estimated $55,000 per year beginning in 2018. Costs this year are estimated at $13,720.

The park district reserves the right to close the pool until summer if expenses exceed revenues by 25 percent at any time after four months of off-season operation.